Mindset in Action
Both growth and fixed mindset happen in everybody's lives. On this page, you will find scenarios of both growth and fixed mindset, along with my thoughts on each scenario.
"I can't think of ANYTHING!" you shout. Your science project is due tomorrow and you can't even find a topic to work with. Just then, your older sister, Sally, walks in. "What's wrong?" she asks. "Do you need help? We could brainstorm," "NO!!!" you shout at her. You know that you are going to fail in science tomorrow.
In this scenario, you have the fixed mindset, and Sally has a growth mindset. You have a fixed mindset because you cannot find a way to solve the problem. But, Sally is offering to find a way to solve it. That's a growth mindset.
"How am I supposed to get through this pine wood? There's no way to. The wood is to strong!" you say after what seems like twenty attempts to break a branch. "Listen, if you just help me set up the chainsaw, you'll be able to cut through the branch," says Uncle William, trying to comfort you. "Well I guess that would cut through it," you say, a little calmer than you had talked before. Maybe the chainsaw will cut through.
Here, we have an example of quickly changing mindsets. You first have a fixed mindset saying that you can't cut through the wood. After Uncle William says his idea, you quickly change to a growth mindset.
"Why did you put ketchup on the hot dog?" you say angrily to your brother, Tom. "You know I don't like ketchup." "I'm sorry," Tom says. "I forgot." You walk away to throw out the hot dog, when your cat comes over to you. Something in her face tells you to just eat the hot dog. Ok, you think. I'll eat it. I guess it isn't that bad trying a new food.
In this situation, we again see a changing of mindsets. At first you have a fixed mindset thinking that you will never eat ketchup because you "hate it." But, then your cat some how changes your mind and you eat the hot dog with ketchup.